Jar-sealing means.



E. MEIERJOHANN.

JAR SEALING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED JAN-18,1916.

1,197,646. Patented SeptlQ, 1916.

ERNST MEEERJOPIANN, 0F CIHCIHNATI, C'HIG,

JAE-SEALING MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pittifltfirl Sfifrt, lg, 1916,

Application filed January 18, 1916. Serial No. 72,871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST MEIERJOHANN,

residing at Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, haveinventedcertain new and useful Jar-Sealing Means, of which the following is aclear, full, and exact description, attention being called to thedrawing which accompanies this application and forms a part thereof.

In some processes for preserving food matter like fruits, vegetables,meats, etc., it is essential that the vessels, jars and cans which areused are closed hermetically. Such air-tight'closures may be obtained invarious ways. In some methods reliance is had upon a vacuum or partialvacuum within the vessels whereby the cover of the vessel is closelyheld to its seat by the effects of the atmospheric pressure. Emptyspace, limited, but sufficient for the purpose and in excess of thatoccupied by the contents of the vessels is presumed, or in other words,the vessels are not completely or solidly filled.

My invention concerns means for reducing the air in this space, or forrarefying it sufficiently to obtain a vacuum which is effective for therequired purpose. These means comprise an apparatus and appliances usedin conjunction therewith, and the invention consists of the constructionof these means as the same is hereinafter described and pointed out inthe claims.

In connection with this description, the invention is also illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates the apparatus of my invention complete in itssimplest form, in which it may serve the limited use of a small family.Fig. 2 is a. side-view of a part of the apparatus of larger size. Fig. 3is a top-view of this part. Fig. 4 is a perspective view and Fig. 5 isan end view of an appliance used in connection with my apparatus. Fig. 6in an enlarged sectional detail view illustrates a preferred form ofconstruction of the jar to be used in connection with my invention.

In the drawing, numeral 8 indicates aof water of limited depth in thelower part of the vessel, the object being to obtain thereby anair-sealing joint or closure. Lid 9 projects beyond this flange 11 wherethey are connected to each other and forms there is seated upon to restupon the bottom of vessel 8 and 14 is a post rigidly connected thereto.By

Preference the base is Provided with: a handle l5whereby it may beconveniently handled when placed into vessel8 or withdrawn therefrom. v

16 is a spring arm at one end in sliding engagement with post 14, itsfree end extending over base 13 and provided with a cap-shaped bearing17 secured to it.

The apparatus so constructed is used as follows: A jar 18 containing theprepared substance and with its lid 19 in position ready for sealing, isplaced upon base 13 and spring arm 16 is lowered until its free endrests upon the lid. After that, its connected end is forced down on thepost and beyond the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.

sion causing its free end to yieldingly hold down llCl 19 of the jar. Italso tends to 1. This places the spring arm under ten' tilt its rear endcausing it to bind on opposite sides of the post as indicated by arrowsin Fig. 1 and prevents the armfrom slip ping up. Base 13 withthe jar onit is now placed into vessel 8 which by preference has been on a stoveor a burner to heat the water therein. Vessel 8 which assumes thefunction of a steamer is closed by lid 9 to confine the steam; thereinwhich is generated quite rapidly owing' to the limited quantity ofwater. The jar is subjected to this heat causing the air imit to expandas well as generation of st ea'mfrom its contents which are usuallyplaced into the jar hot. 'The mences to pop and vibrate on its seatwnenever the pressure within overcomes the resistance of the spring-arm.This affords temporary relief after which the arm forces the lid againto its seat. A few minutes treatment of the jar is s'utlicient afterwhich, with base 13, it is removed from the steamer. The rapid change intemperature causes the hot and expanded air in the jar to condensethereby becoming rarefied and producing the partial vacuum necessary forthe purpose.

The pressure of the atmosphere causes the 'lidto become firmly seatedand to remain so until forcibly removed.

The use of a gasket 21, between the jar andits' lid uponwhich the latterseats is presumed.

A suitable safety device which maybe in form of a weighted ball 22,caged in lid 9 and automatically controlling an outlet in this latterprevents excessive pressure and by the blowff also, indicates conditionsfive spring-arms and five posts. At their upperends they are held inproper relation by a cap 23 which forms also a base for the handle 24.

In view of the presence of the handle at the upper end of posts 14-, itis necessary that spring-arms 16 are constructed in a manner permittingtheir attachment to the posts and removal therefrom sidewise. Thedetails of the construction whereby this is accomplished are illustratedin Figs. 4 and 5. The arms near their inner ends are bent so as to besubstantially parallel to the posts and-on this portion a couplingmember 25 is provided which has two outwardly projectlng lugs 26 and 27.These lugs have notches,

the notch in the upper lug being open rearwardly, andthe notch in thelower lug being "open laterally as shown and engage the posts as shownin Fig. 4, the post being indicated in dotted lines. When the spring armis under tension and the resistance of the jar under its free end forcessaid arm upwardly, lug 26 is pushed against the post from one side andlug 27, having a tendency to pull away from the post, is pushed againstthe opposite side thereof. Thus the coupling tends to twist in avertical plane and binds against the post preventing the spring arm fromslipping up on the post. Observe arrows in 'Fig. 4 which indicate thedirection in Fig. 5, it being first slightly tilted to disengage theuppcnlug from the post.

A preferable form of construction of the jar to be used is illustratedin Fig. 6.

By-brcaking the air tight seal, to admit air to the ]ar, the lid is setfree at once. This may be done by pullingthe gasket sidewise' at one ormore points to disturb its position between the jar and its lid. Byoutwardly enlarging'th'e gasket atone or more points in its periphery itmay readily be grasped for the purpose.

Having described my invention, I claim as new:

1. In jar sealing means, the combination of a steamer servmg to generateheat for raising the temperature of preserving jars placed thereinto,said steamer consisting of a vessel adapted to'contain water in itslower part, a lid for it provided with-ialflange fitted to the inside ofthe vessel and extending with its lower edge into the water there--adapted to hold the arm in a fixed position.

thereon hy the tension produced in it when its free end is caused tobear upon the cap.

mentioned.

n 3. Jansealing means consisting of a base adapted tosupport preservingjars provided with a cap, a plurality of posts grouped thereon, cap toconnect them at their upper ends, a handle provided on this cap servingto manipulate the device and a spring arm on each post removahlyconnected thereto and in a manner to have a sliding engagement therewithpermitting adjustment in a vertical direction of its free end withreferences to the caps on the preserving jars.

In testimony whereof, I-hereby afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ERNST MEIERJOHANN.

Vitnesses:

ALBERT C. MITTENDORF, C. SPENGEL.

